The leaders of the United States "Black reparations" movement are now gathered in Ghana to represent us for "slavery reparations." Lloyd's of London has just pledged slavery apology money to Africa, the Caribbean and South America for underwriting slavery. The USA gets nothing. We urge our leaders to at least do what other humans do: 1. Demand return of our war prisoners -- you know, us. The descendants of the humans trafficked out of Africa antebellum. Today we call that return Dual-citizenship and land.
2. Demand a share of the slave trade Benin bronzes. (video evidence attached)
3. Demand that Africa use its power to command reparations for ALL OF US, not just Africa and CARICOM. That's how the Japanese got their reparations -- Japan commanded it. And others got their's that way too.
@kammh@Nkechi_Taifa @JasmineMickens @BrittaRedwood@b_urassa@RobinSimmons888@DrRonDaniels1
The @berlinerzeitung article by @BenediktHerber entitled "Benin Bronzes: With the bronzes, our history has been stolen" is so full of fiction from chiefs and royals, it inspired a series of responses. My brothers, remember: "United we are rock, divided we are sand." Response # 1:
@hofrench You fail to mention the bronzes were made with blood metal manillas. They sold us for 300 years for the metal, melted it down, and refabricated them into bronzes. The argument to keep them is moral. Giving them to slave trader heirs is rewarding them for crimes against humanity!
Shame on you @hofrench. No one makes the moral argument you present here. We argue that the 16th to 19th century bronzes were made with melted metal manillas the Benin kingdom was paid in exchange for our ancestors they sold into transatlantic slavery.
https://t.co/C0DIOzfFk7
We took our demand for co-ownership of the Benin bronzes to Cannes' Marche du Film. WDR TV station followed us part of the day before we screened our short film "They Belong to All of Us - The Benin Bronze Slave Trade Story." Catch the full broadcast here:
https://t.co/LKU7K4qU09
There is blood on the bronzes!
The blood of the people sold by the Benin kingdom in exchange for the manillas melted into bronzes and our blood for the vestiges of slavery we still suffer from.
Video excerpt from my award acceptance speech in Cannes, on May 25, 2023. @karlbard
Benin Bronze Slave Trade Story Wins Two Awards in Cannes -- Restitution Study Group Celebrating Recognition
Thank you International Cell Phone Cinema Showcase!
- Best Film for Social Purpose
- 2nd Place for Short Film in 2D. @RSGincorp1@TylonakaUsavior
https://t.co/xtoWfhRwuX
Y'all remember this woman? The one who said she never heard of a manilla and denied their Benin bronzes were made with slave money? She's now the "former director" of the Smithsonian Museum of African Art!" She's been "pushed out." God and the ancestors.🙌🏾 https://t.co/TSfhK3dfzE
BENIN BRONZE ALERT!
Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 3-4pm
The Smithsonian Board of Regents will hold its annual public forum live in virtual webcast. Reporters & the public can view the webcast and ask questions using a chat function.
Link:
https://t.co/Yrq4rDuIyU